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Angling For a Line on Fishing Season: Will a Tough Economy Sink Profits?

April 01, 2009 - Open water fishing season begins Wednesday with questions circling about how busy it will be.

Those angling for an answer think a busy spring fishing season will be based more on what the fish do rather than on what the economy does.

Fishermen who work at area tackle and fly shops say if the fish are biting, Maine fishermen will buy gear and get fishing.

In fact, the consensus is that last year was a slow year at fishing shops because the stripers did not rush into Maine – drenching rains did.

"Last year, the season started really, really good – not a lot of rain. Once we got the monsoons in July, it killed everything," said Craig Bergeron, manager at Saco Bay Tackle on Route 1.

Bergeron said the slowdown in sales last year was due in part to the economy, and also to the fishing.

But Bergeron's February sales were up, and March is looking good. Now things are hopeful, he said.

"We're a little above where we were last year. About 10 percent up," Bergeron said. "A lot of people are thinking spring, and they are getting their income tax returns, and the price of gas is not too bad."

Farther south, winter classes in fly tying and rod building at Eldredge Bros. Fly Shop in Cape Neddick were jam-packed this winter, said manager Jim Bernstein.

In fact, at the Route 1 fly shop, the mood is colored by hope and optimism. The huge Flyfishing Expo from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 4 is proof that spring sales of flies, rods and reels are expected.

Each year at its fishing festival, Eldredge Bros. has give-aways, free food and plenty of free demonstrations. Bernstein said he sees no reason to scale back the event because of the downturn in the economy.

"The expo, if we scale it back, then it's not what people want. I'm not going to speculate that it will (stink) and scale it back. You've got to speculate that it's going to be great, be hopeful. I'm not doing all the doom and gloom," Bernstein said. "You can do fishing on a budget. People are not going to give up doing the things they love. Everyone wants to be happy."

In fact, after all the reports about last year's striper runs not making it far into Maine, Bernstein said, it wasn't even as bad as everyone said.

"All my buddies who baitfish, they all said it was the best year or second-best year. There were big fish, there just weren't a lot of them," Bernstein said. "You had to work for them. But what could be more fun?"

However, at the Tackle Shop in Portland, owner Dana Eastman said business has been slow for the past year. He attributes it to the slow fishing rather than fishermen not spending money during bad times.

Eastman said while the slow striper runs in Maine had saltwater anglers frustrated, the spring rains had rivers overflowing until July, keeping fishermen away on the inland waters as well.

He thinks that if the stripers are running in May, the fishermen will be too.

And that will be good for business.

"It was a little bit of both. If it's hard for people to find them, they just go home," Eastman said. "The winter economy was slow. But it fluctuates anyway. Usually, I don't get busy until May. Until then, it's a guessing game."

HOW TO GET A MAINE FISHING LICENSE

AN OPEN WATER (inland water) fishing license can be purchased at most town halls and at some outdoor retailers. Or go online to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife site at: www.state.me.us

ANYONE AGE 16 and older must purchase a fishing license in Maine. Youths ages 12 to 15 must purchase a junior fishing license.

MULTIPLE-DAY fishing licenses may be purchased as well.


DEIRDRE FLEMING, Portland Press Herald, March 26, 2009


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